Use of a Mouse Lung Challenge Model to Identify Antigens Protective againstChlamydia pneumoniaeLung Infection

Abstract

Chlamydia pneumoniae is emerging as a significant human pathogen. Infection causes a range of respiratory tract diseases and is associated with atherosclerosis. A vaccine could provide a considerable public health benefit; however, antigens able to elicit a protective immune response are largely unknown. A panel of open-reading frames (ORFs) from the C. pneumoniae genome sequence was screened for ability to elicit protective responses. Balb/c mice immunized with DNA containing the ORFs were tested for their ability to limit lung infection following an intranasal challenge. Immunization with DNA encoding the major outer membrane protein or an ADP/ATP translocase (Npt1(Cp)) of C. pneumoniae resulted in a reduced bacteria load in the lung after challenge. The identification of these antigens as protective is a significant step toward development of a C. pneumoniae vaccine and demonstrates the feasibility of using a DNA immunization strategy to screen the C. pneumoniae genome for other protective ORFs.

Detection ofChlamydia pneumoniae-Specific Antibodies Binding to the VD2 and VD3 Regions of the Major Outer Membrane Protein

“…C. pneumoniae was propagated in HEp-2 cells (35) and elementary bodies were isolated (21). Bacterial DNA was purified by using a DNeasy DNA extraction kit (Qiagen).…”

Chlamydophila pneumoniae

“…[118] Pomp91B US2004022801 Murdin et al [119] ATPase US2003225017 Aventis Pasteur [120] 98 kDa putative outer membrane protein US2003170259 Mintz Levin Cohen Ferris Glovs [121] Outer membrane protein P6 precursor US2003161833 Aventis Pasteur [122] CPN100149 polypeptide US2003147924 Aventis Pasteur [123] 5 ′ -truncated and 3 ′ -truncated 76 kDa protein US2003095973 Murdin et al [124] CPN100605 polypeptide US2002150591 Mintz Levin Cohen Ferris Glovs [125] Glutamate-binding protein US2002094965 Murdin et al [126] Lorf2 protein US2002091096 Murdin et al [127] Transmembrane protein US2002082402 Murdin et al [128] ATP/ADP translocase US2002081682 Aventis Pasteur [129] 89 -101 kDa and 56.1 kDa proteins family US7264941 Birkelund et al [130] 54 kDa protein US2004029806 Neutec Pharma PLC [131] Proteins encoded by open reading frames US6822071 California University [83] Combinations of immunogenic molecules WO2005084306 Chiron Corp [84] Genomic sequence and nucleotide sequences US2007053927 Serono Genetics Inst SA [85] OmcB: Outer membrane complex protein B.…”

Combination vaccines: design strategies and future trends

“…Using a DNA or vector delivery strategy, genes encoding candidate CVs can be delivered as a polycistronic construct or fused with specific antigen presenting cell (APC)-targeting domains, such as the ligands for the costimulatory B7 [33], CD40 [34] or genes expressing specific cytokines [35]. Presently, the DNA vaccine strategy constitutes a highly useful tool for rapid screening for potential CV candidates in experimental models [36] pending the alleviation of DNA integration and toxicity concerns. Also, the use of recombinant viral vectors as delivery systems for CV deserves serious consideration.…”